1993 Civic VX won't start

About 2 months ago my 1993 Civic VX Hatchback just plain wouldn't start
one day. Took out the battery (7 years old by that point), put in a new
one, started like a champ.

I seldom use the car (3-4 trips a week at most of no more than 5 miles
per). Six weeks after replacing the battery, the car once again
wouldn't start. Wouldn't even turn over. Just got a clicking from the
engine. Interior and dash lights worked fine, though. After a few
attempts at starting, the headlights were weak; I charged the battery
back up and still had the same problem starting. A friend led me
through some testing which seemed to indicate a dead starter. So I
pulled that, got a refurbished one, and put it in.

Now the car still won't start, but has come up with a new failure mode:
When I turn the key to position II, I get rapid clicking from under the
left side of the dash, somewhere above the fusebox. Basic Googling has
turned up a couple posts that suggest the main relay. Any other
possibilities? What testing can I do?

Thanks much,

Sasha

 

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Follow the black wire from the battery to where it bolts to ground.
Unbolt and clean it, putting some petroleum jelly on it.Then clean both
battery terminals in a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of baking
soda dissolved. Put petroleum jelly on them as well and put it back
together.

'Curly'

'Curly'

 

Ditto. And clean the battery terminal posts as well, with some
sandpaper.

Finally, check the battery's State-of-Charge:
http://www.uuhome.de/william.darden/carfaq4.htm
Just because you get 12V when you check it doesn't mean it's fully
charged!

 

Mine did that just 3-4 weeks ago. The rapid clicking sound. Car would not
start. Happens that for some resaon, my 12v connector on the positive
terminal had become a bit loose. I still have trouble explaining why all the
lights would turn on fine but a soon as I cranked it, it would die. Anyhow,
check your connections first as it could be just as stupid as that. My vx is
fine now
good luck

 

Because the lights are low-draw devices. The starter is a high-draw device.
Bad connections can make the starter draw every available amp the battery
has, leaving nothing for anything else.